Phoenix Suns sign M.J. Walker on 10-day hardship deal
Dec 30, 2021, 10:52 AM | Updated: 5:01 pm
M.J. Walker #23 of the Florida State Seminoles drives with the ball against Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 28, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
After placing two more players in health and safety protocols before a Wednesday game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Phoenix Suns have signed G League guard M.J. Walker with a 10-day hardship contract on Thursday.
The move was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
A rookie out of Florida State, Walker went undrafted but signed with the New York Knicks for training camp. He was waived by the NBA team in October but joined the G League’s Westchester Knicks.
The 6-foot-5, 213-pound guard has averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29.4 minutes per game starting for Westchester.
He’s shooting 41% overall and 41% from three, taking 4.3 of his 8.7 attempts per game from beyond the arc.
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Walker played four years at Florida State and as a senior last season averaged 12.2 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.
He joins Phoenix after the team on Wednesday placed point guard Elfrid Payton and wing Abdel Nader in COVID-19 protocols, where they joined center Deandre Ayton and forward Jae Crowder.
Under an altered Collective Bargaining Agreement rule as COVID-19 cases rose this month, the NBA made it a requirement for teams to add players to 10-day deals once multiple rostered players are placed in health and safety protocols.
Walker is the Suns’ second 10-day hardship addition in the past week after they signed Emanuel Terry to a deal on Monday.
